Wine vat or barrel

ABSTRACT

A wine barrel ( 1 ) is described having an open rigid frame ( 2 ) having sides, a top and a bottom. A plurality of wooden side panels are sealingly arranged on the sides of the open frame and a top and a bottom plate are provided for completing the barrel. The barrel can be refurbished by removing the wooden panels, exposing new wood by removing a portion of the panels which has been exposed to the wine and replacing the panels.

[0001] The present invention relates to a wine vat or barrel for the storing and maturing of wine.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] After fermentation wine is typically kept in oak barrels. Wine barrels or vats are usually constructed from wood such as oak which assists in the ageing of the wine. Through an interaction between the wood and the wine and due to variations of temperature and of atmospheric pressure the wine in the barrel undergoes a metamorphosis resulting in a quality of the wine which is highly prized. A barrel is typically made by planing wooden staves into the desired shape, assembling them to form a circumferential wall and then compressing them to form the traditional barrel shape using metal hoops driven by hydraulic rams. Wooden barrels and vats are expensive and difficult to maintain and have to be replaced often. As wine-stone is deposited on the inner side of the barrel and because of the leaching of tannin from the first 2 to 3 mm of the wood, as well as the extreme difficulty in cleaning the barrel, the life time of such barrel is very limited, usually 2 to 3 years for top quality and 5 years for average quality. Afterwards the barrel becomes useless and even detrimental to the wine. Such barrels are costly because of the very complicated construction and the use of a large amount of material (for example, French oak of top quality). Moreover, working with such barrels is labour intensive and the barrels take up a lot of space.

[0003] The use of other materials for wine barrels such as plastic or steel has not been very successful as it is difficult to obtain the best quality wines in such storage containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a wine barrel comprising: an open rigid frame having sides, a top and a bottom; a plurality of wooden side panels sealingly arranged on the sides of the open frame; and a top and a bottom plate for completing the barrel.

[0005] The frame may be made of steel, for example stainless steel. The top and bottom plates are preferably made of stainless steel. The frame preferably comprises vertical and horizontal ribs. The frame is preferably of rectangular shape as this is a shape which may be stored in regular arrays while using a maximum of the space usefully. There is preferably a seal between a top plate or a bottom plate, the frame and the side panels.

[0006] The present invention may provide a method of refurbishing the above barrel comprising the steps of removing the wooden panels, exposing new wood by removing a portion of the panels exposed to the wine and replacing the panels. The present invention may also provide a method of controlling the maturing of wine by the provision of a wine barrel which allows easy attachment of temperature and air pressure controlling devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a wine barrel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 shows a cross-section along II-II of FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 3 shows a cross-section along III-III of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the junction between a top plate and a side rib of a wine barrel in accordance with the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 5 shows detail of the top left corner of the barrel shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0012] The present invention will be described with reference to certain embodiments and to certain drawings but the present invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims.

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a wine barrel 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention which comprises an open and rigid metal frame 2 having a plurality of vertical and horizontal ribs. At least the inner side of the frame 2 is faced with or is made of stainless steel. Wooden panels 3 are clamped together on the sides of the barrel to complete circumferential side walls. As an example clamping means 10, 11 may be used as shown in FIG. 4, e.g. fastening plates 10 and screws 11. The panels 3 are preferably made of straight flat wooden panels without loss of material, instead of staves with a complicated curved shape as with conventional barrels, e.g. longitudinal edges of the panels are straight. These panels 3 can be produced in mass production and then stored ready for use. The wooden panels 3 can be removed and replaced. At the top and bottom of the barrel a plate 5, 6 of suitable material such as stainless steel or wood is provided, thus forming a container for the wine. The top and bottom plates 5, 6 are sealed to the frame 2 to form a pressure tight barrel. At the junction of the wooden panels 3, the frame 2 and the top or bottom cover 5, 6 a seal 4 of food quality material which is also resistant to wine acids is provided as shown for example in FIGS. 4 and 5. The top plate 5 may have a raised point 7 for provision of a vent 8 for releasing gas from the inside of the barrel 1 as shown in FIG. 4. The gas release may also be achieved via a part of the frame 2 if this is hollow and suitable opening are provided. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a drain 9 may be provided in the bottom plate 6 at a depressed point for tapping off the wine. This lowest point can also be located in bottom part of a vertical rib of the frame 2, i.e. the frame, if hollow may be used to drain off the wine. Top and bottom plates 5, 6 may be reinforced with ribs 12.

[0014] As shown the barrel 1 has a roughly cubic shape but the present invention is not limited thereto. A rectangular shape to the barrel 1 allows efficient vertical and/or horizontal stacking. In addition the wooden panels 3 are straight and therefore easy to manufacture and replace. The basic construction, i.e. the frame 2, has to be built only once for a barrel and afterwards only the panels 3 and possibly the seals 4 have to be replaced. For example, after the first 2 to 3 mm of a panel 3 (upper layer of the wood) has become water logged with wine, the panel can be ground, shaved or planed to expose fresh wood and then reused. After 2 or 3 shavings the panels 3 can be replaced. This results in a reduction of material use, hence saving material and reducing price. This is good for the environment as the consumption of slow growing oak trees is reduced. A lot of space is saved compared to the conventional barrels.

[0015] The interaction between wine, wood, air and temperature differences can be maintained as with conventional barrels. Therefore, all prescribed legal and quality standards are fulfilled. By opening one side of a barrel 1, it can be easily and thoroughly cleaned. Cleaning and the refilling can be automated.

[0016] The ripening of the wine can be completely controlled as the temperature and atmospheric pressure can be artificially manipulated. Hence, fast, slow or optimal ripening of the wine can be achieved. Maturing of the wine can be controlled by alternating high and low pressure, so that there is supply of air to the barrel or release of gas from the wine to the air. The frame and/or the top plate 5 and/or the bottom plate 6 allow attachment of a variety of devices in a secure manner, e.g. air pressurisation supplies, or heating and cooling devices and systems, thermocouples, acidity sensors, sugar sensors.

[0017] The skilled person will realise that many modifications, amendments and variations in the construction described above such as shape, clamping means instead of screws etc., are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the attached claims. 

1. Wine barrel comprising: an open rigid frame having sides, a top and a bottom; a plurality of wooden side panels sealingly arranged on the sides of the open frame; and a top and a bottom plate for completing the barrel.
 2. The wine barrel according to claim 2, wherein the frame is rectangular.
 3. The wine barrel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the top and/or bottom plate is made of stainless steel.
 4. The wine barrel according to any previous claim wherein the side panels are flat.
 5. The wine barrel according to any previous claim wherein the longitudinal edges of the side panels are straight.
 6. The wine barrel according to any previous claim, wherein the barrel is pressure tight.
 7. The wine barrel according to any previous claim wherein the top and/or bottom plate is sealed to the frame.
 8. The wine barrel according to any of the previous claim wherein the side panels are removable fixed in place.
 9. The wine barrel according to any previous claim wherein the frame is cuboid.
 10. A method of refurbishing a barrel according to any of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of removing the wooden panels, exposing new wood by removing a portion of the panels which has been exposed to the wine and replacing the panels.
 12. The wine barrel according to claim 11, wherein the frame is rectangular.
 13. The wine barrel according to claim 11, wherein the top and/or bottom plate is made of stainless steel.
 14. The wine barrel according to claim 11, wherein the side panels are flat.
 15. The wine barrel according to claim 11, wherein the longitudinal edges of the side panels are straight.
 16. The wine barrel according to claim 11, wherein the barrel is pressure tight;
 17. The wine barrel according to claim 11, wherein the top and/or bottom plate is sealed to the frame.
 18. The wine barrel according to claim 11, wherein the side panels are removable fixed in place.
 19. The wine barrel according to claim 11, wherein the frame is cuboid.
 20. A method of refurbishing a barrel according to claim 11, comprising the steps of removing the wooden panels, exposing new wood by removing a portion of the panels which has been exposed to the wine and replacing the panels. 